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These Fantasy Paintings Helped Me Cope With My Sickness

My name is Devin Elle Kurtz, and I am often known by the name TamberElla online. I am a 21-year-old concept artist, painter, and illustrator living in Burbank, California. When I was a toddler, my mom went to college for graphic design and purchased an early Wacom Tablet along with Photoshop. Instead of giving me coloring books to keep me busy, she would sit me down with Photoshop and let me draw and paint. Growing up, I learned to paint digitally alongside learning to read, write, and ride a bike. Painting for me is calming and comforting, and I try to give others that sense of peace when they look at my artwork.

As a child, I had a strong belief in magic, and I was obsessed with Studio Ghibli movies about magical creatures like My Neighbor Totoro. I loved to be outdoors and felt best when I was in nature. I was always sketching and could be found carrying a sketchbook anywhere I went.

I began to have episodes of intense sickness when I was 6 or 7 years old, and in my teens, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness called CVS. These episodes increased through my early teens, and I spent a lot of time very ill and depressed. Through it all, art was the shining light at the end of the tunnel that kept me pushing forward and clinging to positivity. The piece "Drawn to Light" is a depiction of my relationship with art as a chronically ill child.

Art and magic to me are one and the same. My belief in the magic of nature and the interconnectedness of creatures and the earth kept me strong and positive through my worst days. Over the last few years, my health has improved dramatically, and I have been able to chase all of my artistic dreams. I work as a background painter for Rough Draft Studios. I create and post art regularly for my followers on Instagram, Tumblr, and DeviantArt. I exhibit and sell prints at conventions and am able to meet so many amazing people.

I try to show magic, love, positivity, and light through my paintings. I try to capture the beauty of nature and add just the right amount of magic. Sometimes I show the negativity of the world in my artwork as well, but I try to always balance those elements with love and light. I want to bring hope and joy to anybody who needs it and to help other chronically ill individuals in any way I can.

My paintings usually take between 2 and 10 hours. I use Photoshop CC and a Wacom Cintiq... upgraded versions of what I used as a toddler! My favorite subjects to paint are animals and magical creatures in dramatic lighting. I imagine many of these creatures watching over us, guarding us, and bringing us magic when we need it.